Valve closure for collapsible tubes



Feb. 27, 1934. E. J. RICHARDS VALVE CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES FiledApril 29, 1932 INVENTOR, .EdWQf'dJlKchards,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 VALVE CLDSURE FOR COLLAPSELE TUBES Edward J.Richards, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application April 29, 1932. Serial No. 608,294

9 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved valve or cap,adapted to be used as a closure for collapsible tubes, and for otherdevices from or through which fluid, semi-fluid and I plastic substancesflow intermittently.

Another and more specific object is to provide a valve of this type,which effectually severs the extruded substance from that stillremaining within the tube or other container, which is preferablypermanently mounted upon the discharge head of the tube, and which isalso preferably yieldingly maintained in closed position, wherein it iseasy with the usual toothbrush or the like to remove all trace of theextruded substance from the said tube head, it being understood that theinvention can be applied to containers and dispensing devices of varioussorts, and in each instance provides an exceedingly simple, efi'icientand wholly sanitary article.

With these and other objects in mind, the present invention comprisesfurther details of construction and operation, whi h are fully broughtout in the following description when read in conjunction with theaccornpanying drawing, in

which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary portion of a wellknown shape of toothpastetube equipped with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is avertical, diametrical section of the tube and closure of Fig. l, butshown in separated spaced relation; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of thetube per se, the closure not having been attached thereto.

Referring to the drawing, any well-known type of tube, such as is usedfor toothpaste and similar substances, is shown as comprising a tubularbody portion 1, which merges into a fructoconical end portion 2, whichin turn opens into a hollow cylindrical head 3, hav ng a closed endportion a, and through one side wall of which head opens a dischargeaperture 5. Said end portion of this head is provided with an elongatedrecess 6, amending radially thereinto from one side thereof, said recesshousing any suitable form of resilient member 7, such as a coil 4 springor the like, and a locking member 8, which is maintained in an extendedposition by means of said spring. The closure for the head of this tubecomprises an imperforate cylindrical member 9, the lower free edge 10 ofwhich is acutely angular in cross-section and is adapted to slide alongand in close proximity to the outer surface of the head 3, so as tosever material extruded from within said tube through the aperture 5 andthereby separate this portion of such n e inner cylindrical surface ofsaid closure is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 12,which terminates at 13 in spaced relation with the severing edge 10, andis deeper at its inner end portion 14 than throughout the remainder ofits length.

In order to assemble this closure upon the head above described, thelocking member 8 is pressed into the recess 6 of the latter and theclosure slipped over said head. Upon releasing said locking member andmoving said closure until said member is in alignment with the groove12, said member is pressed outwardly by the spring '7 into said groove,thereby preventing the subsequent separation of said closurefrom saidhead. 0 Also, it will be noted that, by reason of the increased depth ofthe innermost portion 14 of said groove, as the locking member 8'entersthis deeper portion, it tends to yieldingly resist outward movement ofsaid closure upon and with respect to said head, though yielding underthe relatively light pressure of said spring to permit the with rawal ofsaid closure and exposure of the discharge aperture 5, when and as maybe desired.

Although but one embodiment of the invention is here illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention comprises variousconstructions in which a locking member resiliently carried by thedischarge head of a tube f or other container extends yieldingly into aninternal groove or recess within a closure, which is telescopicallycarried by said head, and which upon being moved in one direction,severs from said head that portion of the substance from -9 within thetube which has been extruded through the discharge aperture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. The combination of a receptacle having a head through one side wallof which a discharge aperture extends and provided with a recess, ahollow imperforate closure having a beveled cutting edge slidable uponsaid head and operative 49 when moved into closed position to severextruded from unextruded substance within said receptacle, said closurehaving a longitudinal groove normally registering with said recess andretaining means extending within and between 1 and yieldingly engagingthe inner surface of said closure to secure the closure upon said head.

2. The combination of a receptacle having a head through one side wallof which a discharge 55 substance from that remaining within the tube.aperture extends, a hollow imperforate closure having a beveled cuttingedge slidable upon said head and operative when moved into closedposition to sever extruded from unextruded substance within saidreceptacle, said closure having an internal recess in a side wall ofgreater depth at its innermost portion, and retaining means yieldinglyengaging within said recess to secure the same upon said head, and whenengaging the deeper portion of said recess yieldingly maintaining saidclosure in operative closed position.

3. The combination of a receptacle having a head through one side wallof which a discharge aperture extends, a hollow imperforate closurehaving a beveled cutting edge slidable upon said head and operative whenmoved into closed position to sever extruded from unextruded substancewithin said receptacle, said closure being provided with a longitudinalgroove, a reciprocatory member carried by said head and engageablewithin said groove, and resilient means to normally maintain said memberin extended operative position.

4. The combination of a receptacle having a head provided with alaterally directed discharge aperture, a closure slidably mounted uponsaid head and having an internal longitudinally extending groove, theedge of said closure wiping closely across said aperture, said headbeing provided with a radially extending recess opening in onedirection, a locking member slidable within said recess and its free endportion extending into said groove, and resilient means also within saidrecess to maintain said member in operative extended position.

5. The combination of a receptacle having a cylindrical head providedwith a laterally directed discharge aperture, a closure slidably mountedupon said head and its free edge wiping along the surface of said headacross and in close relation to said aperture, said closure beingprovided with an internal groove which stops short of the free edge ofthe closure and is deeper towards its innermost portion, said head beingprovided with a radially extending recess opening in one direction, alocking member slidable within said recess and its free end portionextending into said groove, and resilient means also within said recessto maintain said member in operative extended position, to preventseparation of said closure from said head and tending to maintain saidclosure in operative closed position.

6. The combination of the telescoping discharge head of a receptacle andan imperforate closure mounted thereon and normally covering a laterallyopening discharge aperture in said head, a radially movable membercarried by said head and engaging within an internal groove in andterminating short of the free edge of said closure, and a spring tomaintain said member in extended position, to prevent the rotation andremoval of said closure from said head.

7. The combination of a receptacle having a head provided with adischarge aperture, a radially movable locking member carried by saidhead, resilient means to maintain said member in extended position, anda closure slidable upon said head to cover said head when in oneposition and provided with a groove having a portion of greater depth atone end, said locking member extending into said groove and adapted toenter said deeper portion to yieldingly maintain said closure in a givenpredetermined position.

8. The combination of a receptacle having a head provided with adischarge aperture in one side wall, a radially movable locking membercarried by said head and normally extending laterally therefrom,resilient means to maintain said member in extended position, and aclosure longitudinally slidable upon said head to cover said head whenin one position and provided with a groove having a portion of greaterdepth at its inner end, said locking member extending into said grooveand adapted to enter said deeper portion to yieldingly maintain saidclosure in operative position closing said aperture.

9. The combination of a receptacle having a" head through one side wallof which a discharge aperture extends, a hollow imperforate closurehaving a beveled cutting edge slidable upon said head and operative whenmoved into closed position to sever extruded from unextruded substancewithin said receptacle, said closure being provided with a longitudinalgroove, of greater depth adjacent to one end, a reciprocatory membercarried by said head and engageable within said groove, and resilientmeans to normally maintain' said member in extended operative position,preventing removal of said closure from said head, and said member whenengaging the deeper portion of said groove being operative to yieldinglyretain said closure in one extreme position.

EDWARD J. RICHARDS.

